Device for retracting skin



Nov. 13, 1951 A. M. BROWN v 2,575,205

DEVICE FORRETRACTING SKIN Filed oct. e. 1949 AZ'Q'Q 5 N VEN TOR.'`

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 13, 11951 11;;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nEvIcEroRl RETRACTING sm 'Aa01ph M. rbwn, chicago, 111. Application October 6, 1945,1Sverial No. 119,970

This invention relates to a mechanical device which may be used to give the eiectof al face lift, the device being 'removable and adjustably positioned as the occasion demands, to give a desired effect to the facial expression and ape pearance. The device is also capable of beneficial use in the retraction of skin from other parts of the body. Y f

In my copending application, Serial No. 64,817,

filed on December 1l, 1948, description is made to 'These andY other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but'no't of limitation, embodiments are shown in the accompanying-draw ing in which,

' VFigure l is a perspective-view of vention in position of use;

Figure 2 is a perspective View from the under side of the device shown in Figure l;

"Figure 3 is an enlargeddetail planzview` taken from the under lside of the view shown in Figure 1; b

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view of a modification of the devicev shown in Figurev l;

"' Figure 5 shows the device of Figure 1 in position ofuse,and .;v

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational viewtaken along the lines I--IY of Figure 4. j V j, As shown, the device consists `of a support including a pair of rtrough-like, elongate members I and I I arranged in side by side spaced relationl and joined at one of their ends by the curvilinear A a humanhead showing devices embodying features of this inor other resilient sheet material having an upper, wall I6 by which it is secured to the supporting member, and an integrally depending portion I'I which is inclined at an acute angle and from which the spurs I5 extend. One anchoring member, such as the member I3, may be xed to the underside of the support in the region of one end portion thereof, while the other member I4 is carried for a longitudinal sliding movement between two predetermined positions of adjustment on the under side of the support in the region of the other end. In their mounted relation, the dependent portion I'I and the spurs I5 of one anchoring unit are arranged to be inclined toward the same members of the other.

The mounting, permitting longitudinal movement oi the anchoring member I4, comprises an elongate hanger rod I8, xed within the trough portion of each elongate member I0 and II. Slidably mounted on each rod is a sleeve IS. Theupper wall I6 of the movable anchoring member I4 is xed to the under side of the sleeves. The anchored ends of the rods I8 limit the extent of sliding movement of the sleeves and thereby predetermine the positions of adjustment to which the anchoring member I4 may be moved.

The sleeves I9 are constantly urged in the direction toward the xed anchoring unit I4 by resilient members such as coil springs 20 arranged on the rods between the respective sleeve and the anchored portion of the rod. If the spring 20 is an extension spring, it is disposed between the sleeve and the inner end of the rod. However, if it is a compression spring, it is disposed between the sleeve and the outer end of the rod.

' The movable anchoring unit I4 is provided'with an actuator by which it may be manually adjusted away from the fixed unit in opposition to the spring members to'position the movable unit prior to embedding the spurs into the skin. In the illustration, the actuator constitutes a flange 2I fixed to the anchoring unit and extending upwardly between the spaced trough-like members.

In operation, the hair is combed aside to expose the skin and then the spurs of the fixed unit are embedded in the skin or in a plastic layer adhered to the skin near the crown of the head. The actuator I4 is moved in the directionaway from the xed unit I3 to tension the springs and then the spurs of the anchoring unit are embedded in the skin or its plastic layer in the near vicinity of the hair line. The energy, which has been stored in the spring members 20, constantly urges the movable unit I4 in the direction pin 22 may besecured at onecend-v to aporreasponding'end of the support, such that its arms" more or less coincide with the trough-like members of the support. Alternatively, the hairpin* may be secured in any other desired; mannen,

such as by pivoting the end upon a suitable extension 23 on the support I0.

Instead of having just oneoij' itheanchqring;

units fixed or movable with respect to the sup;

port, both of the units I3 and I4 may beimount l ed for longitudinal adjustment in a similar mannepto provide for i a. greater displacement :er elseif to secure .equivalent displacemenkwithn a devicel having lessi overall.. dimension.

Some. advantage..-is gainedby. the resilient` ar.,-

rangement of the meinbersIG; H, and J5.; which;

constitute .the anchoring unit, but .it willbeun: derstood :that the spurs'. may. depend.. .inangular relation.. from rigidzcross:members...y is best .to hold thelengthoizthe.spurs to lessthan. 0.025 inch, greater .lengthsrnaybe used, ,particuf lai-ly if acoating is appliedto the skinandthe length of thezspursfmay be increased .-by amountsin .accordance .Withzthe .angular relation' Qf thespur and .the corresponding.normalgthickness o f.-

the skin. In the absencecf` a'plOVidQd .anchoringihn, spurs dimensioned. to about 0.0.15;inch

in effectivelength and. about 0.005;l in width are;X t-o-.bepreferred because then the spur merely.; engagesthe keratin orhornylayerofthe skim whichis insensitive. When.: so dimensioned-inf.-

i sertionis substantially. painless. and there is little, if any, possibilityv ofY piercing aV blood: vessel.

It will be understood that numerous changes may be ymade in the details of `cc.nstructien, arerangement and operation,4 without depafting`y fronrthe spirit. of this invention, especially; as defined in .the following claims.

What is claimed is:Y

elongate support,

between two positionsoiadjustment; spul'. de-

pending fromreach of'said anchoring members inclinedv relation toward the. other, a compression spring about the hanger. bar disposed be-r tweenthe movable member andthe outerend of the bar constantly to urge the movable anchoringf members toward eachother,v and Imeans for.V manually actuating the movable member away;

from the other.

2. A retractor for human skin comprising an elongate support, a longitudinally disposed hanger bar on the underside of the support, a pair of skin anchoring members mounted in longitudinally spaced apart relation on the hanger bar, at least one of said anchoring members being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement between two positions of adjustment, spurs depending from each of said anchoring members in inclined'. relationytowagdfithe other, a tension spring about the--hangerfbar 'disposedbetween the movable member and the inner end of the bar constantly to urge the movable anchoring x membergtuward each other, and means for manually actuating the movable member away from thef-otheri- A .3... A...retraetpr.fon human skin comprising an elongate support, a longitudinally disposed `hanger-#bar on the underside of the support, a

pair of skin anchoring members mounted in longitudinaliyf spacedv aapart relatiornon the, hanger banwitnatieast one of sadrmembers bemalen-- gitudnallrgs1idable..bet.ween two.) posticnsfof ed: iustmenh. snurssdenendina from: the.. anchornaf 'i memherldimensened teebeef a length .lessthaur the thickness ;of;the;hQrny.-.1ayee of the skinned:

inclined, relatien: towards nach ether,- means.

constantly urging the movable anchoringmeng-f.4 herstoward .eaebotherz and means, :for manually actuatms.;the. mcvable .member f in. the drectign.

away. from: the. other..

4; A., retractcrv forl human: skin.. cameriera. ai treuen..shanedesunnortinaampie Side by side. spaced relation.: an. an..clf1. ri.r.;1e.l member. Xed.. t0- 1 the underside at one end of saidtrough-Shapd.. annsafrod .carriedin spaced. parallel relation on the. underside of each. treuen :shaped arm in the.: endnortienepno ite-the. 1315s@ anchoring. .firem-` bena sleeve. slidablenn geen red, another enhoring memberx Seid-.sleeves-cermittnegslding gravement. t ereefftoward and awayfromthe xed anchcringmember, a 4zeil .erringen each ef.: said rods.. ccnstantlyf. urging.. sa. leeres. tQWar-d.- thensed. anchoring. member, av .means Qn Said movable anchoring member for actuating same.; ink thefdirecticn away: from. the fixed anchoring member;

enema BROWN.-

nEEnRENcEs CITED.

The: following references aree-of' record in .the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

